Rail anchor



April 10, 1928. 1,665,814

M. c. LENOIR RAIL ANCHOR Filed Dec. so. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /5 t i 13 7/0 my w 55 1 fl =1 /j ii 11 M. C. LENOIR RAIL ANCHOR dimg April 10, 1928. 1,665,814

M. c. LENOIR RAIL ANCHOR Filed Dec. 50. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,565,814 r renr oFF cs.

MILTON c. LENOIR, or LGMBARD, rumors. lemme. TO THE r e M co rAn or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed December 30, 1926. Serial No. 158,060.

My invention relates to rail anchors and especially to improvements in anchor devices of the character which is adapted to grip one flange only of a rail bas c.

The principalobject ot the invention 1s to provide in a one-piece anchor device of the above general character certain new and improved constructions whereby the anchor device may be easily applied to its operat ve position and which will be retained in its applied position the resilient qualitiesot the members and the interlocking engag e ment of portions of the device with grooves formed in the rail, at an angle to each other, during the appl ation of the device to the rail.

' Another object is to provide a device of the above character which is so formed that it may be applied to the rail by movement of the anchor about a vertical. axis. and rich may be so positioned against a cross tie and driven transversely of the rail. to move a portion of the anchor longitudinallv ot the rail to produce a groove which cooperates with a part of the anchor to locl; the anchor (lQjVlCtiii its applied position. g

A further and more specific object is to provide a rail anchor withjaws which grip the top and bottom surtace s ot a ra1l b as o adjacent the cross tie and with a biting shackle grip and to provide in an anchor of thisgeneral character, rail grogw'mg portions which look the'anchor in its applied position. i

The invention has for further objects the new and improvedconstructions hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out' the above statedobjects and such' other objects as will appear from the following description of the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railroad rail and cross tie showing a rail anchor device cohstructedjin accordance with my invention in a position which it assumes during its ap plication to a rail.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the rail anchor in its applied position.

Fig. 3 isa cross section through the rail on line 33 of Fig. 2 and showing the end portion of the anchor in elevation.

' Fig. 4: is a side view, in elevation, of the rail anchor in its applied position. a portion of the rail flange being broken away soas to illustrate the manner in Whichport-ions ot the anchor take a biting hold on the rail base. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the rail base illus trating the character of grooves formed'in the base flange of the rail during the application of the anchor to its applied position. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the an;- chor shown in the preceding figures Figs. 8 and9 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but showing a modified embodiment of the anchor device.

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Fig. 3 and 4 showing the modified anchorin its applied position on the rail. Fig. 12 isan inverted plan view of the rail base illustrating the character of? grooves tor-med in the rail base during the appli'ca tion of the modified anchor. Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13-01 Fig. 9.

Fig. 14 is a view inperspective of the modified embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 13 inClusive, and 7 Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are views similar to Figs. 9, 10 and 11 but show the anchor device'applied in an inverted position with respect to the position illustrated in Figs. 9 10 and 11. 1 v i Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive of the drawings wherein Ihave shown the construction and manner of applying one embodiment of my invention. This embodiment consists of a spring metal plate recessed to provide upper and lowerjaws 10 and 11 and to provide relatively long upper and lower resilient arm portions12 and 13. The jaws are formed, preferably, though not necessarily, parallel to each other so that the lower jaw will bear for the major portion of its length, against the horizontal bottoin surface 14 of the rail base and so'that the upper jaw will hear at its end only against the inclined top surface otthe rail base. The portion of the recess 16 providing the jaws 10 and 11 is of such size that the jaws are spread apart slightly when the device is driven to its ap plied position and so that the jaws take a biting hold on the top and bottom surfaces,

respectively, of the rail base.

inner corners The arm portions 12 and 13 are bent to stand, preferably, at right angles to the jaws 10 and 11 of the device. The space between the extremities of the arms is normally less than the thickness of the rail base so that the arms are spread apart slightly when in their applied position. The arms are "formed also to engage at their outer ends only with the rail base. The rail. engaging ends of these arms are curved longitudinally of the arms, as indicated by the reference nun'ierals 17 and are bent outwardly at 18. as shown best in Figs. 3 and 7. so that the sharp 1) and 20 of the arms normally extend at an angle to the adjacent longitudinal edge of the rail base. The sharp corners of the arms bite into the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base. as indicated in Figs. 3 and 1-. and thereby form substantially V-shaped grooves 21 which extend at an angle to the longitudinal edge of the rail base.

In applying the anchor to a rail. the ends of the arms 12 and 13 are fitted over one edge of the rail base so that the arms extend at an angle to the rail and so that the jaws 10 and 11 extend at an angle to the vertical face of. the adjacent cross tie 9.2, substantially as indicated in Fig. 1. The tie-abutting portion of the anchor is then driven transversely of the rail. from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position indicated in Fig. 2. in which the jaws 10 and 11 are driven into spring'gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail'base and assume a position perpendicular to the bottom surface of the rail base and at right angles to the adjacent longitudinal edge of said base. During the movement of the anchor to its applied position. the pressure exerted against the tie forces the extremities of the arms longitudinally of the rail in adirection away from the cross tie 22. so as to form grooves 21+-2P in the top and bottom surfaces of the base of the rail. The transverse movement of the jaw end of the anchor torces the upper jaw upon the inclined top surface of the rail base andv produces a groove therein. substantially as shown in Figs. 5 and (i. by the reference character 24. The grooves 21-21 and the groove 24. it will be seen. extend at an angle to each other. and thereby resist transverse movement of the anchor in a direction to loosen the grip on the rail base. The spring pressure exerted by the arms 12 and 13 is substantially equal on the top and bottom sur faces of therail base. The'jaw portions of the anchor are maintained, therefore. in a position substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the rail base.

The anchor may be applied to either flange of the rail in the position corresponding to that shown inFigs. 1 to 7 inclusive. or it may be applied in an inverted positlon to either side of the rail. It will be seer1,therefore, that the jaw 10 and the arm 12, desig' nated in the above figures as the upper jaw and arm. respectively. will be the lower jaw and, arm, when the'anchor is applied in an inverted position.

In Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive. I have shown a modified construction, in which an arm 13. similar to one of the angularly disposed arms shown in the preceding figures extends longitudinally of and bears against the rail base. This arm is preferably. though not necessarily. so disposed as to form an acute angle with the jaw member. The upper and lower jaws 10 11 of the modification normally convergetoward the outer ends. so that the said extremities oi the jaws. when embedded in the rail base, shown in Fig. 13, will form grooves which increase in depth in a direction. away from theadjacent edge of the rail base. The extremity of the arm 13 is formed in the same manner as the arms illustarted in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. so that the sharp edge 20 will engage one surface of the rail base and forms a groove therein at an angle to the longitudinal edge of the ail base. The said edge 20 is preferably so disposed with relation to the jaws 1O 11 as to cause the jaw portion of the anchor to rock longitudinally of the rail (Fig. 11) when the edge 20 is forced into ongagement with the bottom surface of the rail base.

In applying the modified embodiment. the anchor is. fitted on one edge of the rail base in the position indicated in 8. In this position of the anchor. the upper jaw 10 is hooked over the upper longitudinal edge of the rail base. The anchor is then driven transversely of the rail to the position shown in Fig. 9. The pressure exerted by the lower jaw portion 11 against the vertical face of the adjacent cross tie 22- forces the angularly disposed arm 13 longitudinally of the rail in a direction away from the crosstie and causes the sharp corner 20 of the arm to bite into the bottom' surface of the rail base in a manner to form a groove substan- 7 tially as indicated in Fig. 12 by the reference character 25. This longitudinal movement of the arm 13 is produced by the pressure of the jaw portion of the anchor against the tie, during the movement of the device into its operative position. that is to say, from the angular position shown in Fig. 8, to the applied position shown in Fig. 9. The spring pressure exerted against the bottom surface of the rail base by the arm 13 tends to rock the jaw portion abouta horizontal axis so as to efiect a shackle grip on the top and bottom surtaces of the rail base, as indicated in Fig. '11. This rocking movement of the jaw portion moves the outer corner 26 of the jaw 1O and the corner 27 of the jaw portion 11 into biting engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base so as to form therein the triangular shaped grooves 2627 indicated inFig. 12.

W'ith the anchor applied in the manner indicated in Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive, the creeping pressure of the rail forces the lower portion of the anchor against the adjacent cross tie and thereby tends to increase the biting hold of the end portion of the arm 13 with the under surface of the rail base. The device, however. is capableof being inverted and applied to the rail in the same manner as that indicated in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. \V'hen the modified form of anchor is inverted and applied to the rail, thearm 13 takes a biting hold on the top inclined surface of the rail base and therefore tends to tilt the anchor in a direction opposite to that indicated in Fig. 11. lV'hen the anchor is tilted in the above manner, the creeping pressure of the rail in a direction toward the cross-tie 22 tends to increase the shackle hold of the jaws 10 and 11 on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base. The triangular grooves 26 27, increasing in depth toward the center of the rail, provide a lock which prevents the device from moving outwardly with relation to the edge of the rail base. The angular position of the groove 25 also lends itself to maintaining the anchor on the rail base by resisting movement of the anchor in a direction tending to loosen its grip on the rail.

I claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws adapted to be driven into engagement with one flange of a rail base, and a spring arm extending outwardly from the jaw portion of said device and adapted to bear with spring pressure against the said base flange.

2. A rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws adapted to be driven into biting engagement with one flange of a rail base. and a spring arm extending outwardly from the jaw portion of said device and formed with a sharp corner portion adapted to bite into said rail base.

A rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws adapted to be driven into biting engagement with one flange of a rail base. and a spring arm extending outwardly from the jaw portion of said device and formed with a sharp corner portion adapted to bite into said rail base to form a groove extending at an angle to the adjacent longitudinal edge of the rail base.

4. A. rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws adapted to be driven into biting engagement with one flange of a rail base, and a spring arm extending outwardly from the jaw portion of said device and formed with a sharp corner portion adapted to bite into the said rail base to form a groove extending at an angle to the grooves formed by the biting grip of said jaws so as .to resist movement outwardly with relation to the edge of the rail base.

5. A. rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws. one of which bears flat against the bottom surface of the rail base, and the other of which bears at its end only against the top surface of the rail base, and a spring arm extending outwardly from the jaw portion of said device and. formed with a sharp corner portion adapted to bite into said rail base to form a groove extending at an angle to the grooves formed by the biting grip of said jaws so as to resist i'novement outwardly with relation to the edge of the rail base.

6. A rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws for engaging the top and bottom surfaces of the base flange of rail at one side of the rail and formed with a spring arm extending hmgitruilinally of the rail. the end portion of which arm is bent so that the corner portion thereof bears against the said base flange.

7. A. rail anchor comprising a mci'nber formed with jaws for engaging the top and botton'i surfaces of the base flange of a rail at one side of the rail and formed with a spring arm extending longitudinally of the rail. the end portion of the arm being bent longitndinall and transversely of the arm so that a corner portion thereof bears against the rail base at an angle to the adjacentcdge of said base.

8. rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws for engaging the top and bottom surfaces of the base flange of a rail at one side of the rail and formed with a spring arm extending longitudinally of the rail, the said arm being formed at its extremity with a sharp edge portion adapted to bite into the rail base at an angle to the adjacent edge of said base.

9. A rail anchor COIl'lPllSlng amember formed with jaws adapted to be driven into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of a rail base and formed with a spring arm having a biting engagement with the rail base; said jaws and arm being disposed with relation to each other. whereby the anchor may be applied to either side of the rail base in various positions.

10. A rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws which converge toward their ends and are adapted to be driven into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of a rail base and a spring arm having a biting engagementwith the rail base; the said jaws and arm being disposed with relation to each other whereby the anchor may be applied to either side of a rail base in various positions.

11. A rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws adapted to be driven into tilt) gripping engagement with the top and bot: tom surfaces ol the rail base and formed with spaced spring arins extending longitudinally oi the rail and adapted to be driven into grippin engagement with the top and bottom surtaees oft the rail ba. 0, the distance between the extremities of said arrns being normally insniiieient to receive a rail base therein whereby the said arms are spread apart and exert spring pressure on lhetop and bottom surfaces of ti e rail base when the anchor in its applied. position.

12. A rail anehor comprising a clip ll1G1H-' ber termed \Yitlrjilb'rf adapted to be driven into biting engagement with the top andv bottoni surtaijses ot the rail base at one side of the rail, a spring arin eaten" ig longitudinally of the rail 'lroin eaeh or. said jaws, and the said arms being torined at their ends with biting edges which extend at a angle to the adjacent edge (it the rail base.

13. A rail anchor comprising a clip member tor'ined'with jaws adapted to be driven into biting engagement with the top and bottom surfaces oi the rail has at one side of the rail, a spring arni extenijling longitudinally of the rail from each oi? :fd jaws, the rail engaging oi said arnr being bent longitudinal the 2111115, whereby t edge of each arm engages the rail base at an angle to the longitudinal edge oil salt base. 1

ll. A rail anther eonsistingot a clip recessed to provide jaws tor gripping the top and bottom surfaces or a rail base at one side only of a rail and formed ivitl an arm extending longitudinally of the rail and provided at its extremity with a sharp edge portion adapted to take a biting hold on the rail base and adapted to be forced longitudinally oi the rail by the toree applied in driving the jaw port-ion honie.

'15. A rail anchor consisting ol a clip reeessed to provide jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of a rail base at one side only of the rail and formed with an arm extending longitudinally oi the rail and provided at its extremity with a sharp edge portion adapted to take a biting hold on the rail base; the said anchor being adapted to be positioned against a cross tie with the arm and an portion oi the device engaging the rail base at an'angle to the longitudinal edge thereof, whereby lnoveinent ot the jaw portion to its applied position exerts force against Htifl tie to force the arm longitudinally of the rail.

it A ail anchor consisting of a clip recessed to provide jaws tor gripping the top and bot om surfaces ot a rail base at one side only or a rail and formed with angularly disposed ar ns extending longitudinally of the rail and provided at their extremities with sharp edge portions adapted to grip said top and bottom surtaees of said base, the said anchor being adapted to be positioned against a cross tie with said arms and jaws engaging the rail base at an angle to the longitudinal edge thereof, whereby movement of the jaws to their applied positions exerts force against said tie toforce the arms longitudinally of the rail.

' MILTUl't LEN'JEL. 

